110 W. New York Ave., DeLand, FL
386-734-4622
Photo courtesy Stetson University Library Archives
Up a tree — This Stetson University photo shows the scared young bear perched on a tree on the Stetson campus. The bear was headed west at last report.
See video of the bear at Stetson University
BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
Beary scary — A black bear on the loose on the Stetson campus comes down from a tree. Wildlife officials chased it west across Woodland Boulevard, hoping it would find it way back to the woods. Though bears can be scary, they usually climb trees because they are frightened.
BEACON PHOTO/MARSHA MCLAUGHLIN
It's a happening — Stetson students, phones in hand to send messages to family and friends, came out to see the bear on campus.
Young people who followed a Florida black bear west on Minnesota Avenue talk with wildlife officials who are pursuing the bear in Northwest DeLand. The bear sat for a while high in a tree on the Stetson University campus but suddenly came down and headed west, witnesses said.
FWC PHOTO
Bears like to eat — This photo of a Florida black bear provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission shows a bear trying to get into a bear-proof trash container. Bears will take the path of least resistence when they're hungry, wildlife officials said, and will enter residential neighborhoods in their search for food.
By Barb Shepherd and Pat Hatfield
posted Oct 29, 2009 - 11:32:52am
UPDATE 2:30 P.M.
The bear is still headed west, and is about 3 miles east of the St. Johns River, FWC spokewoman Joy Hill said. That's good bear habitat, and if left alone, the bear should have no problem reaching it.
Hill said people living in the area should make sure bear attractants, such as garbage, bird seed, pet food, etc., are not left outside for the next few days to discourage the bear from lingering in neighborhoods.
The bear will likely try to avoid people and not interact with them unless he is cornered or feels threatened, or finds human-provided food. If the bear gets frightened and goes up another tree, ignore him. Leave him alone, and he'll move on, Hill added.
UPDATE 12:52
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) spokeswoman Joy Hill said an FWC biologist is on the scene in Northwest DeLand where a bear visited. FWC staff chased the bear west across Woodland Boulevard. The plan is to keep the bear heading west, Hill said, and to the woods on the west side of DeLand.
"Two or three miles is nothing for a bear to travel," she said. Bears often travel five miles in a night.
The bear is a young adult male, around 200 pounds in size. He's at the age where he wants to start expanding his territory a bit.
Hill said for the next few days, West DeLand residents should take bird feeders or anything else that would attract bears indoors for the next few days.
If the bear is spotted up a tree again, leave him alone, and let him come down and head west. Bears climb trees when they are frightened, Hill said.
UPDATE 12:34 p.m.
DeLand Police were setting up a perimeter in the vicinity of the 100 block of West Minnesota Avenue, west of the Stetson campus, to contain the bear, Sgt. John Anderson said. FWC wildlife officers are in DeLand to handle the animal.
UPDATE 11:59 a.m.
Wildlife officials and the DeLand Police Department are combing a Northwest DeLand neighborhood after a large black bear, who made a brief appearance on the Stetson campus, suddenly climbed down from the tree he was in and headed west across Woodland Boulevard in the neighborhood of West Minnesota Avenue.
Police stationed at Minnesota and Clara avenues appeared to be diverting traffic from the area where the bear is believed to be. The bear is on the move and eluding DeLand Police, Animal Control and the FWC.
EARLIER:
Maybe he was attracted by the name: CUB Circle.
For whatever reason, a large black bear visited the campus of Stetson University this morning, climbing a tree near the circle drive in front of the Carlton Union Building (CUB).
A student reported the bear was high in a tree in front of Stetson Hall dormitory, between CUB Circle and the dormitory.
Campus officials rallied quickly to cordon off the area around the bear with yellow caution tape and guards.
About 11 a.m., one student reported, the campus was abuzz with talk of the bear as students made their way to classes across the lawns and paths often munching on snacks. A hundred or so students were gathered at the caution tape boundary to watch the bear.
The Minnesota Avenue gates to campus were locked, to keep cars out of the general area where the bear is.
Stetson's community-information office said a student first reported sighting the bear, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) was notified. Wildlife officers were on their way to campus at 11:15 a.m.
FWC spokeswoman Joy Hill said bears are naturally shy and secretive. But, like people, they often take the path of least resistance. If dinner is available from garbage cans or pet food left on a porch, bears will forage through neighborhoods for their suppers.
Bears, though cute, can be dangerous. Wildlife officials advise anyone who encounters a bear not to run. Officials advise remaining upright, avoid direct eye contact, back up slowly, and speak in a calm voice. Give the bear an escape route.
Black bears are large, powerful animals, weighing between 150 pounds and 400 pounds. The largest bear on record in Florida, a male, weighed in at 624 pounds. Bears can be destructive to property, and interactions can be dangerous for people and bears, Hill said.
See video of the bear at Stetson University
Reader Comments
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FWC says they can't do much until all the bird feeders are gone and hopefully he will be gone, too.
The presence of bears leaves us to wonder whether Wasteful Management (or whoever the garbage-company-of-the-week is) is planning to come out with bear-proof garbage cans.
I saw one out by the bear crossing section of SR-44 past the St. John's once, and it was newsworthy for me personally, but I had gone to his habitat... not the other way around :)
We live over the bridge in lake county. When I called authorities I was told that this is close to the area they relocate the bear. So we will just have to put up with it, unlike the people in town
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